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Lee Valley Golf Course Lee Valley Leisure Complex Meridian Way, Enfield, N9 0AS Expressions of Interest Introduction The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority owns and manages an 18 hole municipal golf course at the Lee Valley Leisure Complex, Picketts Lock, Edmonton. Over the years, significant investment has been made in the course, placing it in good condition. Similar investment is now required in the built facilities for players and visitors. Until this is made, it is believed the course will continue to require subsidy. Accordingly, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority seeks expressions of interest from experienced organisations and/or individuals interested in taking responsibility for this golf course and associated land on either a management contract until the Park Authority is in a position to oversee the construction of player accommodation or for an investor to enter into a lease and undertake the construction of the facilities with the management of the course thereafter. The length of lease will be proportionate to the level of investment that is intended to be made. To this end, the Park Authority would welcome ideas and proposals for the running and management of the course. Expressions of interest are therefore sought by the Park Authority on the basis that individual operators prefer, from an annual management agreement, to a short term lease reflecting minimal investment, through to a long term lease to cover the building of substantial facilities. Location The Lee Valley Leisure Complex is situated in the London Borough of Enfield, approx. 5 miles south of Junction 25 of the M25 and 1 mile north of the North Circular Road (A406) at Edmonton. By public transport, Ponders End Railway Station is 1/3 mile (0.5km) and Tottenham Hale Underground Station (Victoria Line) about 3 miles (5km) distant. The W8 bus service has a terminal within the complex. The golf course forms an integral part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex, which includes a 12 screen Odeon cinema, a state of the art Athletics training centre, restaurant, caravan and camping site. Overall, there are some 1,000 free car parking spaces. Description Designed by John Jacobs in 1972 and extended to 18 holes in 1978, the Lee Valley Golf Course is set in a natural parkland and has water in play on 10 holes using the natural features of a large lake and the River Lea. Principal Facts and Features: • municipal golf course • Attractive 92 acre (37.55ha) mature parkland setting • Circa 22,750 green fee tickets in 2013/14 • Shop • Secure grounds maintenance depot and yard: 4,305 sq ft (400 sq m) • Equipment store: 1,840 sq.ft (171 sq m) Objectives The Authority’s primary objective is:- • for the site to be operated at no cost to the Authority. There will be flexibility in whether this is via management, capital investment or a long term lease on a premium or annual rental basis. The secondary objectives are:- • To ensure that the non-golf areas are maintained in a way that protects and conserves the natural environmental and ecological character of the site. • To seek to deliver an efficient operation and a sustainable leisure business that does not impact unduly on the neighbouring facilities of the wider leisure site. The Existing Business The golf course has been owned and operated by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority since 1972. Management budgets are available for the last three years on request. The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority is marketing the golf course as a going concern, either as a management contract or under a lease. Golf Professional The Authority has extended the current contractual arrangement of the golf professional by one year to March 2015. The Golf professional is paid a fee to manage the reception and can operate a golf teaching programme on the site. Business Rates Currently assessed with the adjoining caravan and camping facility, with a joint RV of £77,000. A new assessment will be sought on completion of any new legal arrangement. Staff The Authority employs directly 6 staff at the golf course. These include: No. of Position Employees 1 Manager (with dual responsibility for the adjoining campsite) 1 Part time Duty Manager (with dual responsibility for the adjoining campsite) 1 Head Greenkeeper 1 Assistant Head Greenkeeper 1 Greenkeeper 1 Apprentice Greenkeeper The Authority believes that Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations may apply to the majority of posts. Green Fees and Membership The Leaside Golf Club is a resident club based at the golf course. The club has no rights of tenure. The Club currently has 154 members of which 134 are active playing members. They typically hold 80 competitions per year. The Authority expects that a new operator would work with the resident club to promote and develop golf. Green Fees and Membership 2013/14 Fee % Fee 2014/15 Increase (7 Day) £640.00 £540.00 -15.6 (5 Day, Mon £400.00 £300.00 -25.0 Fri) Season (7 Day) - £310.00 £200.00 -35.5 Ticket Cadet '19-21' (5 Day, Mon Fri) - Cadet £205.00 £100.00 -51.2 '19-21' Unlimited Golf – Junior/ 18 £130.00 £50.00 -61.5 and under Membership £40.00 £40.00 0.0 Charge Members Charges Monday to £13.00 £14.00 7.7 Friday Monday to Friday: £9.60 £10.00 4.2 Twilight (after 2) Monday to Friday: £7.20 £7.50 4.2 Twilight (after 4) Monday to Friday: £7.20 £7.50 4.2 (concessions) Sat/Sun/Bank £16.50 £17.00 3.0 Holidays Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays: £12.50 £13.00 4.0 Twilight (after 2) Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays: £11.50 £12.00 4.3 Twilight (after 4) Monday to £17.00 £17.00 0.0 Friday Monday to Friday: £12.00 £13.00 8.3 Twilight (after 2) Monday to Friday: £9.30 £9.50 2.2 Twilight (after 4) Non Monday to Members Friday: £9.30 £9.50 2.2 Charges (concessions) Sat/Sun/Bank £20.00 £20.00 0.0 Holidays Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays: £15.80 £16.50 4.4 Twilight (after 2) Sat/Sun/Bank Holidays: £12.80 £13.00 1.6 Twilight (after 4) Practice 1 Hour £5.00 £5.00 0.0 Hole Future pricing policy If the future of the Golf Course is under a management agreement, then the Authority reserves the right to monitor all fees. Prices proposed by the operator and set in line with market forces are to be submitted to the Authority three months before implementing a change for approval. Operators under a lease will be fully responsible for their own green fee rates. Golf Course Maintenance Equipment The golf course has a full complement of modern maintenance equipment, the majority of which is owned outright. An inventory and details of condition will be prepared at the time the legal documentation is anticipated to be completed. Buildings and Containers There are currently a number of cabins and storage huts of temporary and permanent nature on site. All will remain on the completion of legal agreements. The full maintenance of these will be the responsibility of the operator. EPCs will be provided as part of the more detailed information pack. Fixtures and Fittings A schedule of fixtures and fittings of the golf course buildings with a schedule of condition will be prepared at the time the legal documentation is anticipated to be completed. Site Drainage The course remains largely playable throughout the year. During 2013/14 only 2 days were lost due to snow. All greens and tees have automatic irrigation in a reasonable state of repair The irrigation system benefits from being able to extract water from the Ponders End Lake which is enveloped by the front 9 holes, the amount of extraction is dependent on lake levels and is governed by the Authority’s Biodiversity Department as a bird nesting island is part of the lake. Planning The local planning policy is governed by London Borough of Enfield. All parties interested in undertaking development should satisfy themselves through relevant searches of the planning history and potential for development of the site. Parts of the course have been previously used for landfill. The Park Authority will not accept further imported fill. Tenure The Authority’s objective for the site is to achieve the on-going operation at no cost to the Authority. At this stage of expressions of interest the Authority may consider:- • Management of the facilities • Management of the facilities with capital investment • Leasehold based on a minimum of 5 years or longer as prospective parties may suggest. For parties considering significant investment in the golf course facilities, with possible conference and other venue and golf related retail facilities, then it is anticipated a long lease will be granted. VAT The Authority reserves the right to charge VAT on any element of the disposal if deemed appropriate. Expressions of Interest The next stage of the expression of interest will depend on the level of interest. If strong interest is indicated a formal second stage may be entered into as appropriate. The Lee Valley is not obligated to accept any proposal. The Authority is also undertaking an internal review of operations during the forthcoming months. To enable each proposal to be considered the initial expressions of interest should include:- 1. Details of the Company 2. Details of relevant experience in managing golf course 3. In the event of capital investment proposals:- a. Details of investing and operating commercial golf/leisure facilities b. Expected level of investment and details of the investment 4. If Management fee and maintenance only – level of the fee payable and details of the operation proposed.